Of course YMMV but my limited experience is that there will always be inexpensive tickets available at the stadium for most games (not super bowl or national championship or maybe SEC championship). A friend and I went to the Orange Bowl for TN vs Nebraska and bought 30 yardline tickets for 15...
Maybe the Vols will get a lead, the rain will start pouring cats and puppies, and we will start punting on first downs like that UT vs Auburn game (victory) so many years ago.
I think there was a basketball player (Robinson?) who played at least preseason NFL as a kick returner. Probably 70s. Not sure if he was drafted or not.